LP03

Nothing new to report. Exciting huh? I’ve been biking- put in 240 miles last week- and looking for a similar number this week as well as trying to add 10 miles or so of running. I’ve decided to not wrap my calf anymore since if anything, the wrapping is probably making it weaker/creating an imbalance and just prolonging the inevitable. I was able to run 5 miles over the weekend without pain but I did still feel some tightness.

I trying to decide if I want to do PDR this year. I’d have to ramp up my running pretty quickly in the next few weeks to get ready for it and I just know it’s going to cause more problems. I also have a duathlon that I’m signed up for the week before and I will be focusing my training that one, since all the other Du’s I planned for seem to be falling through. I don’t think they limit PDR entries so it may be a decision I make that week.

Finally, I’m fat! Damn, I packed on some weight in the last 3 weeks. It’s my fault, I’ve been eating shitty and drinking way too much (damn summer parties). With the lack of training, it’s messing me up bad. I’m back up to 165+, which sucks but it’s not insurmountable. I’m back to a full training schedule (even if it is mostly biking) so I think it’ll start to level out and drop.

That’s all the whining I have for today, more to come soon I’m sure!

Got out for a bike ride yesterday with only moderate discomfort! It wasn’t bad really but the foot is definitely not 100%- more like 60%. I’ll still be off running for this week at least but biking should be OK. I’ll be adding in regular lifting even though for some reason my shoulder is much worse than it’s been in awhile.

Had to have about half of my toenail removed on Friday. That was fun. It feels a little better today but it still hurts a bit in shoes. The doc said I should be able to get back to exercising this week so that’s good. Depending on the weather I might try to get out on the bike tonight- I’ll skip it if it’s raining and/or still really wet out- I don’t need to help the infection come back. I’ll probably stay off of running this week again, it’ll give my calf some more time and make sure this toenail heals up. I just need to do something, I’ve been plumping up for the last week. Combine a complete lack of physical movement with bored eating habits and it’s not a good mix. I’m pretty pissed at myself given I was finally making progress at getting down to 150 and now I’m back to where I started.

I’m going to focus on losing weight for the next couple weeks. I don’t have any races planned until September now (the Upperman Duathlon that i was really looking forward to got canceled- good stuff might come from this though, I’ll post about it later) so I can take some time to regain fitness, drop 5-10 lbs and come off this stuff better than I was (hopefully). I admit fully that I don’t rest enough so even though I hate being hurt and taking time off, it’s probably good for me in the end.

Guess that’s it for now. Later!

So this calf thing, not sure how it is but since I’ve got at least a week of complete rest ahead of me, I think it’ll be in good shape by the time I can use it again. Why do I have at least a week of COMPLETE rest ahead of me? Oh, let me tell you (this is funny). I have an ingrown toenail that sparked an infection and now my entire foot is in severe pain. Yeah, it’s been pretty awesome. I’m on antibiotics now and going to the foot doctor Friday. We’ll see how long this sidelines me for.

I ran the Good Neighbor Day 15K Today anyway… I did OK. My legs were far from fresh and mentally I was a bit off with this injury. Still, my calf felt alright through the race and I finished around what I expected though I could have done better if I had taken it easy this week on the bike. Oh well.

As for actual useful information… This was a nice race. Well run and the course was good. Mostly flat, small hills, fast overall. Definitely worth running again.

Quick turnaround, I know, but I think I will be taking time away from running. I may not race on Friday as well (I will make that decision Thursday night). Everything I read about calf strains scares the shit out of me. Particularly since my pains are sharp and can be intense, which indicates a relatively severe strain.

I have a doctors appointment in two weeks or so anyway, I’ll bring it up there. Until then, I’m going to put in LOTS of bike time and probably get back to regular kettlebell workouts. I just wish I knew how to swim…

Well, looks like my calf strain is back. Ran yesterday morning and felt great. Set out in the evening and it felt funny from the start and by halfway through, it was full on pain just like last year. I did cut the run short but still got in 6 miles. Awesome! This injury only cost me 6 weeks last year!

I have a race this weekend that I’m still going to try and run. The pain is minimal on flats so I think it’ll be fine (it’s a pretty flat race). I’m of the opinion that this will never heal properly and is just another nagging pain to deal with. I’m going to try and run with it as long as it doesn’t mess up my stride.

Just when I thought I’d make it through a full season…

am I just stupid.

So Saturday I go out for a long run/bike/run session as I try to do most weekends. Everything was fine- 8 mile first run, 32 miles bike, and then the last run…

Funny thing, I did nothing different to start. I was feeling beat all day so I was taking it down a notch speedwise but I fully expected to finish. Then I made the first mistake of the day. I decide to run on a new, unfamiliar path. I do this to change up the route a bit, make it more tolerable since I’m already a bit wary from the soreness. I leave the car with a 20oz bottle and here comes mistake #2-> I don’t take money with me as usual (not sure why). It’s now around 10:30-11 so the sun is blazing. The positive of the new trail is that I know it’s a shaded dirt road, so I’m looking forward to getting out of the sun.

The first mile or so is hot, not much shade but I know it’s going to get there and it finally does. Nice trail, relatively flat, dirt- so it’s better on my knees, and it’s nicely shady. I’m trucking along.. sore as hell but the cardio is there. Two miles in or so I start looking for a water fountain, I’ve been out here for a few hours by now and even though I’m trying to keep up, I sweat like crazy. Mile three, still looking. Mile four, I’m pretty much out of water and there’s nothing in site. Half mile ahead, I check the trail map. There’s a water fountain somewhere between .5 and 4 miles ahead, at this point, I can’t tell. I’m freaked, hot as hell and know I won’t make it back without water if I want to keep running.

I keep going forward in the hopes of hitting a fountain. Another half mile or so and I decide that it’s not happening. I stop and start walking, still forward thinking that there HAS to be another water station soon. I mean, 6 miles without water? That just seems dangerous. Well, I guess it’s OK on this trail. I find nothing.

Finally, I turn around and walk back to the nearest town. I try one shop, but it’s a no go, no water or public restroom. Walk a couple blocks to the gas station with success. I down a ton of water in store and fill up for the road back. Walking back to the trail, I decide I’m going to run it back. I finish. It’s painful.

I’m not sure I was able to describe the stress this whole thing caused, maybe a bit of anger too. I was at my physical limit and had no money (which would have bought a beverage much sooner, or at least provided mental relief) and no water. Without a cellphone, I have no contacts or safety. I was truly worrying about making it back.

Total time Running/Biking/Walking= 6 Hours.

I will be getting a fuel belt now. There’s no reason I should be taking risks with this heat. I’ll pick one up this week.

I bought a motorcycle! An ‘87 Honda Rebel 450. Here’s a pic:

Hopefully, I’ll be picking it up this weekend and then on to a body cast!

I get word from the Doc that I should be OK to bike and run. So I go out for a ride last night thinking I’ll save the run for tomorrow and give my knee just a little longer rest. I head out and it’s funny how I was in pain all day but on the bike it’s completely fine. No pain at all unless I twist my foot a bit (which doesn’t happen often), so I’m happy- even if running fails tomorrow I can bike and not worry about fitness loss/weight gain.

I run into a paving crew and traffic about 10 miles out, using my mad traffic weaving skills, I make it through pretty quickly. Then it happens…

I come around this corner, it’s a flat and fast section and I’m cruising around 22-25 mph (had just checked my garmin a few seconds before), and since this happened in a couple seconds time here’s my thoughts as clearly as I can remember.

(This is all happens in about 2-3 seconds after I exit a turn):

Hey! That’s a tree in my way.

Can I go through it?

Nah, branches are like 3″ thick.

Can I stop?

No time, you’ll run right into it.

Can I go around it?

Why not!

Oh, they’re paving the road today. Look! A 5″ lip of new asphalt. Awesome!

Let’s do this! HUHaspdfjapsfjapfisWTF,dfkofwfOMGefweifjer!!!111!!!!

(At this point, I am flying over the handlebars)

(Now landing on my should and head)

(Now sliding across the asphalt)

Oh look, I’m in the middle of the road. This is probably not good.

(==== End Fall Sequence ====)

Luckily, I came out with some just some road rash on my shoulder and left arm, a scratched up helmet, and reopened wounds on my left hand. Sadly, the next thing I thought after: “GET THE HELL OFF THE ROAD” was “At least I didn’t land drive side, just hope that wheel isn’t bent.” And it wasn’t, the bike seems perfectly fine.

This just hasn’t been my week.

In other, better news, I ran this morning and my knee feels pretty good. There is some pain but as long as I keep my stride open and run well it’s fine. I think I’m going to do the Parvin State Park Du tomorrow. I’ve had a lot of rest this week so why not take advantage of it!